INTEGRATED INVERTER COMPRESSOR VARIABLE VOLUME REFRIGERANT LOOP DATA CENTER COOLING UNIT AND CONTROL SYSTEM

Abstract

A point to point, point to multipoint, or multipoint to multipoint integrated inverter compressor variable volume refrigerant loop data center cooling unit and control system used to regulate volume of refrigerant to air handling systems used to supply cold air ventilation to data center rooms and to the electronic equipment mounted therein which require constant cooling by using a control system controlling variable speed pumps, fans, compressors and condensers to operate a one or a plurality of closed loop, variable volume refrigerant loop systems in conjunction with one or a plurality of associated interior air handling systems located within a data center.

Claims

1. An integrated inverter compressor variable volume refrigerant loop data center cooling unit and control system used to maintain air temperature control and distribute cold air within data centers consisting of: outdoor inverter compressor; and, outdoor variable speed fan; and, outdoor variable volume condenser coil; and, a variable volume refrigerant loop; and, indoor electronic valves; and, Indoor and outdoor headers; Indoor coil; and, Indoor variable speed fan; and, a control system.

2. The integrated inverter compressor variable volume refrigerant loop data center cooling unit and control system in claim 1 which can be configured as a point to point, point to multipoint and multipoint to multipoint system.

3. The integrated inverter compressor variable volume refrigerant loop data center cooling unit and control system in claim 1 which can be configured as an in-row, computer room air conditioner CRAC, rear door air handler, overhead air handler, or underfloor cooling units.

4. The integrated inverter compressor variable volume refrigerant loop and data center cooling unit and control system in claim 1 which can be configured as modules to form multipoint networks of indoor and/or outdoor nodes to scale the capacity of the integrated system to cool variable load demands.

5. The integrated inverter compressor variable volume refrigerant loop and data center cooling unit and control system in claim 1 which consists of a multitude of separately configured indoor coils to produce different air temperature air flow outputs within the same data center resulting in separately controlled zoned air temperature control within the data center.

6. The integrated inverter compressor variable volume refrigerant loop and data center cooling unit and control system in claim 1 with an electronic system for controlling cooling with a data center or auxiliary space comprising: A memory storing instructions; and, at least one processor configured to execute the instructions; and, at least one sensor(s) to detect air temperature within the cabinet; and, at least one sensor(s) to detect proper operation of the variable flow refrigerant loop distribution system; and, A management system to detect and generate a response to activate air cooling system; distribution system, generate a response to activate and control fan, pump, compressor and condenser speed; generate a response to control valves through which the refrigerant flows; generate a response to control variable controls of operation of the variable cooling system; generate a response to control header valves to mix point to point, point to multipoint, and multipoint to multipoint refrigerant flow paths; and, generate a response to maintain operation of the integrated systems to achieve cost efficiencies of the operational system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Various exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar components, with reference to the following figures, wherein:

[0031] FIG. 1 is a detailed view of the preferred embodiment illustrating the essential components of the indoor unit.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the preferred embodiment illustrating the essential components of the outdoor unit.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the preferred embodiment illustrating a multiple coil the indoor manifold assembly.

[0034] FIG. 3a is a detailed view of the preferred embodiment illustrating a single coil configuration.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a detail view of the preferred embodiment illustrating the essential components of the outdoor unit, indoor unit and piping configured as a point to point application within a data center.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment illustrating point to multipoint data center application.

[0037] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment illustrating multipoint to multipoint data center application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. It may be evident; however, that the claimed subject matter may be practiced with or without any combination of these specific details, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and the claims.

[0039] The present embodiment shown in FIG. 4 can be understood by looking at the integrated inverter compressor variable volume refrigerant loop data center cooling unit and control system 100 as four sub-systems: 1) outdoor system 200; 2) indoor system 300; 3) closed loop refrigerant piping 400; and 4) control system 500.

[0040] In FIG. 4, application of the integrated inverter compressor variable volume refrigerant loop data center cooling unit and control system 100 is illustrated by showing the data center envelop 110 which is the volume of space defined as the data center to be cooled.

[0041] FIG. 4 presents illustration of the outdoor sub-system 200 with additional detail shown in outdoor units 210 FIG. 2 which contain the inverter compressor 220, condenser 230 and variable speed fans 240. These sub-system components can be operated with or without redundancy and are controlled by the control system 500.

[0042] FIG. 4 also presents illustration of the closed loop refrigerant piping system 400 which consists of small diameter pipe 410 forming long runs 430. The supply side of the closed loop refrigerant piping small diameter pipe 410 is connected to the indoor supply manifold 305 FIG. 1, at connection point 470. In FIG. 4, the supply side of the closed loop refrigerant piping small diameter pipe 410 is connected to the inverter compressor 220 at connection point 260. The long runs 430 consist of small diameter pipe 410 and connect the indoor coil 320 to the compressor 220 and condenser 230 to effectuate the cooling effect of the system

[0043] As shown in FIG. 4, the return side of the closed loop refrigerant piping small diameter pipe 410 is connected to the indoor return valve 348 FIG. 3 at connection point 475 FIG. 1. In FIG. 4, the return side of the closed loop refrigerant piping small diameter pipe 410 is connected to the inverter compressor 220 at connection point 265.

[0044] In FIG. 4, the data center envelope 110 is shown which contains the indoor system 300 and control system 500. FIG. 4 also shows the heat recovery box 440 connected to the auxiliary water heater air heater 460 using auxiliary refrigerant distribution lines 450 which is used to divert refrigerant to auxiliary units to recover heat which can be used to heat water or heat adjacent rooms to the data center where desirable.

[0045] FIG. 4 illustrates of the indoor sub-system 300 which contains the indoor air handler unit 310 which is a cabinet 505 containing an indoor coil 320, control valves 340 detailed as in FIG. 3 as valves 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347 and 348; fans 330; and, the control system 500 which has a plurality of temperature sensors 510 within the data center envelop 110. Routing piping 420 is shown in FIG. 1. A plurality of indoor coils 321, 322 and 323 FIG. 3 can be connected to control valves 340 FIG. 4, detailed in FIG. 3 as 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347 and 348 to supply a plurality of zones each maintained at a different temperature within the data center envelop 110. As shown in FIG. 3a, a single control valve 343, an expansion value controlling refrigerant flow to a single coil 323 is suitable for operations requiring a single temperature zone.

[0046] The preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 3a and FIG. 3 provides for single coil 320 configuration or multiple coil 321, 322 and 323 configurations, respectively, or any combination thereof. This configuration flexibility provides for redundancy of components to prevent down time due to individual coil 321, 322 or 323 failure and which also provides for in-service maintenance and service capabilities of the system 100 without having to take the system 100 out of service completely to perform maintenance or repairs.

[0047] The preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 3 can be configured to distribute refrigerant to each coil 321, 322 and 323 individually by adjusting control valves 341 through 348 respectively. To isolate coil 323, control valves 343 and 346 would be activated to create a closed loop. To cascade coil 322 and 323, control valves 342, 343, 344 and 346 would be activated to create a closed loop. To cascade coils 321, 322, 323, all control valves will be activated to create a continuous closed loop circulating refrigerant through all three coils 321, 322 and 323.

[0048] The capacity of cooling provided by the system 100 FIG. 4 is a function of control provided by the control system 500. The control system 500 can adjust the flow rate of refrigerant within the close loop refrigerant piping 400 to the coil 320, or coils 321, 322 and 323 when a plurality of coils is configured.

[0049] Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a point to multipoint network of indoor systems 301 and 302 is created by connecting mid-span control valve 349 to control the distribution of refrigerant flow, through refrigerant piping branches in the closed loop refrigerant piping 400 described below, to multiple indoor systems 301 and 302.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 6, a multipoint to multipoint network of outdoor systems 200 to indoor systems 300 is illustrated using a mid-span control valve 349 to serve a plurality of data center envelops 110, 120 and 130. A plurality of temperature sensors 510 are positioned within the data center envelops 110, 120 and 130 as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.

[0051] The multipoint to multipoint system is created as shown in FIG. 6, where a plurality of outdoor units 211 and 212 are connected to a plurality of indoor units 301 shown as an inrow system, 302 shown as a CRAC system and 303 shown as a perimeter system using a mid-span control valve 349 to supply multiple branches 401, 402 and 403 within the closed loop refrigerant piping 400 shown as branch 401, 402 and 403 supplying indoor unit 301, 302 and 303 respectively.

[0052] In FIG. 4, the volume of refrigerant circulating in the closed loop refrigerant piping system 400 is control directly by adjusting the speed of the inverter compressor 220 by the control system 500. The volume of refrigerant circulating within the close loop refrigerant piping 400 is directly proportional to the cooling capacity available to the heat load with the data center envelop 110, FIG. 4. Increasing the flow rate of refrigerant circulating provides higher capacity to maintain the temperature of the data center envelop 110 constant when higher heat load is present.

[0053] In FIG. 4, the control system 500 also provides control to the outdoor system 200 controlling the inverter compressor 220, condenser 230 and variable speed fans 240. This combined control of outdoor system 200 and indoor system 300 provides operating efficiencies which are not found in other systems. The control system 350 operates to ensure the outdoor system 200 is operating at the most efficient speed to yield the optimum level of heat transfer from the refrigerant contained with the closed loop refrigerant line which was absorbed through the coil 320.

[0054] The control system 500 FIG. 4 accepts inputs signals from a plurality of temperature sensors 510 distributed throughout the data center envelop 110. According with logic within the control system 500, control signals are transmitted to the sub-systems to adjust the speed of the variable speed components and which controls the refrigerant flow rate within the closed loop refrigerant piping branches 401, 402 and 403 as shown in FIG. 6, by controlling mid-span valve 349, which supply a plurality of coils 321, 322, and 323 contained within the indoor system 300 shown in FIG. 3. The flow rate to individual coils 321, 322 and 323, FIG. 3, is controlled to create temperature zones within the data center envelop 110 which is accomplished by the control system 500 controlling indoor supply manifold 305 FIG. 1 to control the flow rate of refrigerant to each respective control valve 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347 and 348 FIG. 3 respectively. Controlling the flow rate of refrigerant and distributing the refrigerant to various coils yields the maximum capacity for heat transfer with minimum demand for consumable services such as power consumption and wear on friction bearings contained within the compressors and fans.

[0055] It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used in this patent document. The term couple and its derivatives refer to any direct or indirect communication between two or more elements, whether or not those elements are in physical contact with one another. The terms include and comprise, as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term or is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrases associated with and associated therewith, as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like.

[0056] What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art can recognize that many further combinations and permutations of such matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term includes is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term comprising as comprising is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

[0057] While this disclosure has described certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, as defined by the following claims.